A police officer slain in the line of duty is a disgrace that needs an answer. Instead, the shotgun slaying of Sgt. John Young is getting the political treatment from four San Francisco supervisors more interested in rhetoric than healing justice.

Young was killed in 1971 in case that never has been resolved. Charges against several defendants, professed members of the Black Liberation Army, were tossed out in 1975 when a judge found that confessions had been extracted under torture by police in New Orleans, where the suspects were arrested.

Fast-forward to 2007, when seven suspects were charged anew. Prosecutors claim they have fresh evidence, and one participant has agreed to testify against the defendants. It won't be an easy case: there are half a million documents, fading memories after a 38-year wait and towering legal bills since the accused will need public representation.